Schools expel junk food to meet new federal standards

Though most local schools are still offering standard meals like burgers and chicken nuggets, educators say major efforts are being made to get kids something nutritious on every tray.

By Kyle Alspach

Students returning to school in Easton next week may notice a change in the lunchroom: Whole milk will no longer be on the menu.

In Middleboro, veggie burgers will be introduced, while in Brockton, schools kids will have the choice of spinach salads for the first time.

And in Taunton, all pizzas will be made using low-fat cheese and whole-grain flour.

Though most local schools are still offering standard meals like burgers and chicken nuggets, educators say major efforts are being made to get kids something nutritious on every tray.

"We can't make them take the healthy product," said Deb Seger, food service director for the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District. "But we can at least offer it, and encourage them to try it."

Federal government statistics show that the rate of overweight youths has tripled in the past three decades.

For many years, the food served in school was not part of the solution. That changed last year when all school districts nationwide were required by federal law to implement a "wellness policy," outlining the district's plan to improve nutrition and exercise for kids.

Many food changes were brought into area schools last year, but food service directors say those plans will kick into even higher gear this fall.

In Brockton, Executive Chef Joe Pecorelli said new healthier choices - like turkey burritos or a chicken Caesar salad - will be offered as alternatives to typical meals. The cafeteria will also make fewer salads with watery iceberg lettuce and more with nutrient-rich spinach and romaine lettuce.

"The greener the veg, the better," said Pecorelli, who works for Brockton's food service provider, Chartwells.

Whitman-Hanson has been working to add healthier foods for the past four years, but will still get some new additions this fall, said Seger.

Cafeterias will now have a "Fit and Trim" line where students can get a variety of salads, along with lean cold cuts on whole-grain bread, Seger said.

In Taunton, whole-grain pizza will be the newest healthy option, but students are still getting used to some of last year's new offerings, according to Food Service Director Karen Pappa.

Some of the foods are being introduced to kids for the first time, said Pappa, such as brown rice and high-fiber legumes like chickpeas and kidney beans.

Most vending machines were also pulled out of the Taunton schools last year, except for a few that offer juice and water.

"If you have vending machines and you serve food that isn't consistent with what you're teaching in health class, it's kind of hypocritical," said Taunton School Superintendent Arthur Stellar.

Middleboro students will be offered veggie burgers this year, as an alternative to their fatty and high-cholesterol beef counterpart. Food Service Director Lynn Petrowski said it will be an experiment and isn't sure they'll catch on.

"Like everything, we'll just continue to try and offer healthier things in small doses," she said.

School officials say that along with adding new options, efforts are also being made to cut out foods that are known to be unhealthy.

Easton will cut out whole milk and rely on lower-fat milk instead starting this fall, said Penny Spellberg, Chartwells' director for Easton schools. In Avon, fryolaters have been pulled out in recent years and the schools are baking their french fries instead, according to Superintendent Margaret Frieswyk.

Food service directors in Brockton and Easton say they are ordering cooking oils that are free of trans fat, a processed fat that has been shown in some research to increase the risk of heart disease.

Whitman-Hanson Superintendent John McEwan said that though it costs a bit more to offer healthier foods, it's worth it.

McEwan said it's also important for schools to remove junk food vending machines - as Whitman-Hanson did several years ago - even if it results in a loss of revenue for the schools.

"We have to decide, what are we here for?" he said. "We're not here to make money. We're here to educate kids."

Kyle Alspach of The Enterprise Brockton, Mass.) can be reached at kalspach@enterprisenews.com.

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